Improvement in knitting-machines



Ulvrrnn PATENT I CHARLES' J. APPLETON, oi? 'PiiL-ADELPIA, rE'NNsYLvNi.

IMPRovEMi-:N-r iNKmTTiNe-MAcHiNEs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.'l811v,689, dated November 28, 1876; application filed July 30, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LCHARLES JAMES AP- PLE'roN, of Philadelphia, State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a new and useful Improveineiit in Knitting-Machines; and I hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, and the letters of reference marked thereon, in which the saine letter represents the same thing in each ligure.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of a knitting-machine with my improvements attached. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of dial-holder and needle-regulator. Fig. 3 is a side view of cap, with dog and pin. Figs. 4 and 5 are, respectively, plan and under-side views of the camca-p for operating the needles.

A is the arm; B, the stud; C, the cap; D,

the dial; E, the collar; F, the needle-regulator and dial-holder; G, the catch, H, the

cam-lever; I, the needle-cylinder; K, the camcylinder; L L, the plain needles; M M, the ribbing-needles; N, the dog; l?, the cap-pin; Q, the nut; R, the catch-key; `S, the operating cam-groove; S', the idle cam-groove; T,

the adjustable cam; V, the groove for removing and inserting the dial-needles.

The object of my improvement is to produce ribbed or plain knitting. at pleasure on a family knitting-machine without displacing either set of needles-as, for example, in making a stocking, to knit the heel and toe plain and the leg and foot ribbed without taking the dial out of the cylinder. This is done by suspending inthe center of cylinder I of an ordinary family plain-knitting machine a cap, C, and dial D, loose on stud B, which is fastened to arm A by nut Q, arm A being fastened to cani-cylinder K, and revolving with it.

The operation is this: The work being set up, with the ribbing-needles M M out otl operation, if the cam-lever H be moved outward, the ribbing-needles will be thrown into action by the cam T within cap C, closing the end of idle grooveS, and causing the needles to pass around on the operating-groove S, and the two sets of needles (ribbing and plain) are thereby caused to knit together, forming ordinary circular ribbed knitting the desired 1ength ot' the stocking-leg. When the heel is reached, by moving the cam -lever H inward the cam T will be moved outward across the operating cam-groove S, causing the needles to move within the idle groove thereby drawing the ribbing-needles out of action, and a halt', more or less, of the stitches on the ribbing-needles are removed 4and placed on the plain or cylinder needles L L by hand. The machine is then reversed half-Way. As dog N recedes from pin Pcap C does not move. The plain needles, with the ribbingstitches thereon, continue to knit plain Work only until the heel is formed and it is desired to knit ribbed work again', when the cam-lever H is again moved outward, throwingribbingneedles M M into the outer grooves of cap (l and between plain needles L L. Then,

by turning the machine until dog N strikes pin P, cap C will again revolve, and both'sets/ of needles resume knitting.

-At the `completion of the toe formed in the same way another stocking may be commenced Without breaking the thread by making a Welt in the manner described in my Patents Nos. 107,749 and 107,750, granted September 27,

Dial-holder Fis made adjustable by a slot and pin at its rear, and catch-keyR in needlecyliiiderl acts between the two plates ot' catch G, so that it retains the dial in place whichever way the machiue'is-V moved. F acts also as a needle-regulator, being arranged so as to allow the grot/)ves of dial D to be placed either between or -in line with the grooves of the cylinder I, and securely clamped in either position by a set-screw, as Shown in Fig. 2, so as to-produce dili'erent kinds of ribbed work.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Let! l ters Patent, is

1. In a circular-knitting machine, the combination, with a dial -plate and series of lneedles carried thereby, of a cani-plate provided onI its under side with a cam-groove, together with an adjustable cam arranged in proper relation to said cam-groove, and a lever for op erating the saidcain, whereby the needles may be brought into action or Withdrawn therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In combination with the needle and cani This part cylindersof a knitting-machine, and a dial adapted to carry a series of needles, together with a cam-platefor operating said needles, a support or standard and connecting nu'echan-` ism, wherebythe said needles are operated when the machine is run in one direction, but remain stationary when the machine is run in the opposite direction, substantially as and for the purpose described.` p

3. The combination of loose-mounted cap O,dia1 D, dial-holder F, arm A, needle-cylinder I, and cam-cy1inder K, acting together substantially as and for the purpose described. "1

4. The combination of adj ustahle dial-holder F, dia1 D, catch G, and needle-cylinder I, pro:-

vided with the catch-key R, operating together substantially as and for thepurpose described.`

CHARLES J. APPLETON.

Witnesses: p JOHN W. RIPLEY, S. J. GORDON. 

